Dumping door for railway cars and the like



l 1'" July 2 927 Ad CAMPBELL- DUMPING DOOR FORA 'ILWY' CARS AND THE LIKE g sheets-sheet' 1 Original Filed March i6, 1925 Jul v12 1'9 7.--

y 2 A; CAMPBELL DUMPING DOOR FOR RAILWAY CARS AND THE LIKE Original Filed March 16. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARGYLE CAMPBELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ENTERPRISE RAILWAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DUMPING DOOR FOR RAILWAY CARS AND THE LIKE.

Original application led March 16, 1925, Serial No.15,748. Divided and this application filed-.Tilly 29, 1926. Serial No. 125,609.

My invention relates to improvements in dumping doors for railway cars and the like.

This application is a division of my pending application, Serial No. 15,148, filed March 16th, 1925.

An object of the invention isto provide a dumping door construction for railway cars and the like, in which the parts of each door are o-f metal, and arranged and braced 1n a novel manner, including elongated embossments in the unsupported portion of the door to reinforce the body thereof where the saine is likely to sag under load, and including means for strengthening the free edge and corner portions of the door to render the construction of exceptional value when associated Iwith door operating and supporting mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to so dispose the embossments in a floor door that the same will offer the minimum obstruction to shoveling should `this be necessary at a time when it is not convenient to dis.

charge the lading through the door openings. It is a further object of the invention to so dispose the embossinents as to offer the minimum obstruction to the free flow offmaterial when the doors are in an inclined position and eliminate pockets ordepressions within which moisture and water would accumulate and cause corrosion and damage.

It is also an object of the invention to reinforce the door by embossineiits of -vary ing width whereby strength and resilience will be combined. 1 I

` Other and further objects of the invention will more fully and clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Fig. 1 represents a top plan view of a fragment` of ay railway car of the flat floor type, showing one of my improved dumping doors and the car construction associated therewith. Fig.l 2 is a transverse sectional view through the :car structure, illustrated in Fig. 1 and corresponding substantially to a line 2-2 of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevational, partial sectional view, of the dump 'doorV and .supporting means therefor, the side wall -off the car being omitted to afford an unobstructed view of the car door and its associated supporting means.

As shown in the drawings lOrepresent-s a fragment of the center sill of a railway car of the iiat floor type; 11 represents a fragment of the side sill of such car, only one side of the car being illustrated, and it will be understood that the center and side sills 10 and 11 .extend longitudinally throughout the length of the car, and that construction similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1 forms the opposite side portion of the car. The center and side sills 10 and 11 are connected at intervals by means of crossA bearers 12 which are connected to the side and center sills in any suitable manner. Disposed between said crossbearers are dumping doors A which are shown herein ashinged to the center sill construction on suitable hinge brackets 13. Suitable door supporting and raising means are provided adlacen't the swinging edges rof the'doors. Said means may consist of operating shafts 14 mounted 1n the ends of the cross-bearers .12 in suitable brackets 15. The brackets 15 in the form shown are provided with elongated slots 16 withinv which the shafts are adapted to have a movement of translation so asto be movable into supporting position beneath the doors from a position beyond the free edge thereof.

Each shaft 14 is provided at intervals with drums 17 on which are wound chains or flexible elements (not shown) whereby a connection is effected between the shaft and door to raise the latter. Formed integrally with each Winding drum is a collar 18 having aseries of serrations adapted to register with similar serrations on a bracket 38 mounted on the door structure.

Each of the doors -A is of a novel construci tion comprising a metal plate of a size slightly greater than the dumping opening with which it is associated, said plate being provided along its forward and side edges with depending integral flanges 28, 24 and 25, and with a flange 26 which is'inclined rearwardly and curved, so as to fit beneath. the outstanding flange of the center sill.

Each of the doors A is swingably mounted upon the center sill 10 by means of hinge butts 13, preferably three in number, which are secured to the center sill by means ofv .brace in the for a of a 2 b rivets, and in spaced relation, two of the hinge butts 13 preferably being` located'adjacent the side edges of the door opening, and the remaining hinge butt 131 mounted centrally between the two outer hinge butts. The hinge butts i3 and lill are cut out to accommodate the curved 'flange 2G upon the door plate. The central. hinge butt lill is connected to the plate forming the door A by means of a hinge strap 29 riveted to the door and pivotally connected with theV hinge butt by means of the pivot pin The two outer hinge butts 13 are also provided with hinge straps 3l. pivotally connected with the associated hinge butts i3 by meansI of pivot pins 32. Door braces 233 are provided which are inv the form of angle members, one ilange of each of which secured to the door plate by means of rivets, and the other flange of which is disposed inwardly of tie .side edge of the door,v and lies substam 1ily perpendicnlar to the plane ot' the door plate. The door braces 58 extend transversely across the door plate to a point adjacent the outer free edge thereof, the rear ends of the door braces being disposed in position to be secured to the hinge straps Si, rivets being providei'lv which extend through the hinge straps Si, the horizontal flanges of the braces, and the door plate. -I

Adjacent the forwz` e edge of the door, and tern'iinating a slight distance from the door braces 33 is a longitudiinilly extending Sli, one horizonveted to .the door tal ilange 35 of which plate, the other l'iorizcental flange 36 being the plane of the vthe Z bar being plane of disposed somewhat belol door plate and the webv of disposed perpendicnlarly to the the door plate.

interposed between each .end of the Z bar "Ui, and the adjacent vertical 'tlange o a door brace 33 is an angi-ilar .nieniber Si', one

lianoe of w rich. lies between the end of the c I. .I ,i Z .barand the adjacent versie'L 'nangcer the brace, and vthe other flange which is secured to 'the flange SG or the Z bar means of rivet Disposed on the of each vert brace 33. is a casting 38 tions 39 on i'snnder ace, the flange 2?; of the door plate being recessfalaas indi? cated at fil), to perniit the projection there` through of the outer enr i the racl; on the casting. The side wall )vi-ded with ser All ot' the casting, lying against the vertical 'flange of the mil jacent brace 33, is fastened in position by means of rivets which entend through. the wall 4l, the vertical ilange ot the adjacent door brace, and the vertically disposed flange of the supportingplate 37. The top wall 4:2 of the casting iecured to the door platewby means of ri es lach casting 38 isv reinforced by suitable ribs d4, and a depending flange 45. A

,alv flange of the related door in order to strengthen the portion of the door plate lying between` the braces 33, the metal pressed upwardly to .provide embossments 48, which are of elongated oval or elliptical form, the major axes of which extend perpendicular to the pivotal' axis of the door, the extremities of the einbossments at their outer ends extending approximately to a point in line with the web of the Z-bar 34%, and their rear ends ertendingto a point adjacent the rear edge of the door. The minor axes of such embossments are of such extent as to provide approximately equal spaces between the outer sides of the Vembossinents and the braces 33, and between the inner .adjacent faces of the embossinents, the embossments covering approximately two thirds ot tlie'area of the door between the braces 33. Each of the einfbossinents i8 has a. fiat upper surface of extended' area which is joined to the main body of the plate by inclined wall portions disposed as varying angles as indicated at 50 andl, the inclined wall portions extending at such an angle that in shovelling the load, should it be desired to do so, the shovel w'll slide easily overI the sloping surfaces of the einbossn'ients, and also the greatest length and lesse.Y slope is at the forward and rear ends of the enibossnients, as indicated at 5l), in the direction of flow of material, to provide for an unobstructed flow thereof when the doors are opened, and the steeper slope, as indicatet at 5l, divides the material to reach side of the embossments thereby permittingl rapid discharge of the lading.V The construction of the door can be somewhat varied if de A. er so that the center hinge strap 2) may be extended toward the Z-barBLia sutilcient distance to provide a stiffeiieri1i,\vliich event the embossments i8 could be made smaller' in size. Y

By this arrangement it will be apparent that the door is braced by a supporting framework consisting of vthe members 33, and the Z-bar 341-, and the rack members are securely connected by the plates i'xboth to the braces 33 and the Z-bar Seli, so that thev rack members which support t ie 'licor upon 'the shaft are lsupported by the framework, and not by the metal of the pliatezitself. llt also should be noted that the embossments brace the portion of the door which is 'most likely to sag under the weight of the load' imposed thereon, the embossments being formed with the portion of greatest width.

at substantially the lin-e of greatest bending` movement and the shape of the embossmen i, l due to their gradually decreasing' widtl: as-

they approach the ends, ensures necessargr strength with resilience'. Such. embossmenis are arrangedl so that the portion ofV the' door' itil) I have herein shownand described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Vhat I claim is:

l. In a railway car, the combination with means defining a dumping opening; of doorv braces extending transversely of said door; a Z bar having one flange connected to said door plate adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof, said Z bar having its ends spaced a small distance from said door braces; vand bracing means having a portion connected to the other flange of said Z .\bar and to the respective door braces.

2. In a railway car, the combination rwith means defining a dumping opening; of a door for closing said opening comprising a metallic plate; transversely disposed angular door braces, each of which has one flange secured to said door plate, andthe other flange extending perpendicularly to said door plate; al Z bararranged adjacent one longitudinal edge of said door plate and having its ends spaced from the perpendicular flanges of said door braces; and means having a portion connected to the opposite flange of saidZ bar, and to the perpendicular flanges of said door braces.

3. In a railway car, the combination with means defining a dumping opening; of a door for closing said opening comprising a metallic plate; transversely disposed door braces; a braceA adjacent the' longitudinal edge of said door, the ends of which are spaced from the inner sides of said door braces; rack members disposed on the outer sides of said door braces; and` connecting means having portions secured to saidlongitudinal brace, and other portions connected to said transverse'braces and said racl; members.

4. In a railway car, the combinationwith means providing a dumping opening; of a door for closing said opening, comprising a metallic plate; transversely disposed door braces secured to said plate; a Z bar disposed adjacent to one longitudinal edge of said door and having one flange secured to said door plate, the ends of said Z bar being spaced from the inner sides of said transversely disposed door braces; rack members disposed on the outer sides o-f said door braces; and means connected to the other flange of said Z-bar and to said door braces, andl said rack members 5. In a railway car, the combination with means providing a dumping opening; of a door for closing said opening comprising a metal plate; of transversely disposed angular door braces, each of which has one flange secured to the door plate, and the other flange disposed perpendicularly to the plane vmeans Vdefining a'v dumping opening;

tliereof;a Z vbar disposed along the longi tudinal edge of said door and having one flange. connected with the door plate, the ends of said Z-barbeing spaced from the perpendicular flanges of said dooi braces;

rack members disposed on the outer sides ofsaid door braces and secured to said door plate; and angular plates, each of which has one angular portion secured yto the votherV flange of said Z-bai, and the other angular portion secured to the perpendicular flange of the adjacent door brace, and to said rackmember. l

.6. In a railway car, the combination with means defining a dumping opening; offa doorvfoi' closing said opening comprising a metallic plate; and ineansfor bracing said door, said means including embossments formed in the plate, said embossments being oval in shape and disposed with their major axes extending in the line of flowof thev dumping material when the door is opened; and a hinge member lying betweena pair of einbossinents and secured to the door plate.

7. In a railway car, the combination with of a door for closing said op'ening'comprising a metallic plate; bracing elements secured'to the plate and extending in the direction ofV flow of the dumpable material when the door is opened; an'embossment formed in the door plate and disposed intermediate ythe said bracing elements, said 'embossment pre? senting an extended flatsurface raised outwardly from themain surface of the plate, the raised surfaces being vconnected with the plate by sloping 'wall portions of varying' length, the connecting lportions of greatest length Vbeing disposed in the direction of flow of the material.-

8 As an 'article of manufacture, a lhinged load sustaining door-for'dump cars and' the like comprising: a main' sheet metal'y plate;a`

series of hinges secured to the underside of the plate; and integrally formed indentations formed in said sheet metal plate, said indentations being disposed intermediate the hinges and formed with extended flat por-V tions spaced away from the main door plate, said indentations decreasing in Ywidth near the ends thereof.

9. As an article of manufacture, a load sustaining door for dump cars and the like,

material will flow over the said indentations when the door is in open position.

10. Asfan article of manufacture, a load' sustaining door for dump cars and the like y comprising: a vmain sheet metal plate and ing wall portions connecting said flat portions with the main door plate, said sloping wall portions presenting a relatively fiat slope in the direction of iow of the material and a `relatively steeper slope at other locations.

1lY As an article of manufacture, a hinged load sustaining door for dump cars and the like comprising: a main she-et metal plate; and spaced. integrally formed strengthening indentations formed therein, each of said indentations including a fiat section raised outwardly from the main body of the plate and sloping sections dispo-sed at varying angles connecting .said flat portion with the main body ofthe plate, said sloping sections of least slope being disposed in the direction of flow of material and those of relatively steeper slopepbeing inclined transversely to the direction of flow of material whereby the section of least slope will direct material above the flat sectiony of the indentation-s and the steeper slopes will divide the discharging material toreither side of .said indentations. v

l2, As an article of manufacture, a load sustaining' door for dump cars and the like comprising: a main sheet metal plate; spaced. integr-'ally formed' strengthening einbossments in said plate, said embossments having flat portions of extended area raised above the door plate; and means for directing lading past said embossments when the door is open, said means including sloping connecting wall sections between the raised portion of the embossment andv the` main door plate whereby a relatively flat slope is provided in the direction of flow of material to direct lading above the embossment and steep slopes tok direct lading sidewise of the embossments.

13. As any article of manufacture, a load sustaining door for dump cars and the like comprising: a mai-n sheet metal plate a seriesy of hinges secured to the door adjacent one edge thereof;l a reinforcing framework securechto the underside ofthe door to strengthen the three remaining edges ofy the door; and integrally formed indentations formed in said sheet metal plate, to strengthen the .door intermediate said hinges and framework, said indient-ations beingv formed withflat portions off extended width: on substanti'ally the line of maximum bending movement of Vthe door and of graduallyl receding 'width towards the ends of said indentations.

14. As an article of manufacture, a loadsustaining and dumping door for dump cars andl the like comprising: a main Isheet metal plate having an integrally formed, strength,

ening embossmeirt therein raised above the main pla-ne of the plate, said embossment having an upper elongated flat portion united to the main portions off the plate by integrally sloping connecting portions, those connecting portions in the line of normal discharge of the load being of lesser slope than vthe remaining connecting portions, whereby to minimize impedance to the How of material over said embossinent when the load is being discharged.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th day of July 1926.

ARGYLE CAMPBELL. 

